UPA Days (1944-1959)
Engel was one of a group of animators which also included William Hurtz, John Hubley, and Herbert Klynn who later left Disney to join the United Productions of America studio. At UPA, Engel worked as a background artist on cartoons like Gerald McBoing Boing, Madeline, and Mr. Magoo. The environment at UPA was much more open-minded to change, unlike his former employer, Disney. It was during this period where Engel was not only inspired by paintings by Kandinsky, and Klee, but also Miró, Matisse, and Dufy, as well as the Bauhaus book "Language of Vision". Engel would later claim responsibility for discovering the children's book Madeline, and suggesting to Stephen Bosustow to buy, copyright and develop the series.
In 1945, Hazel Guggenheim (of the art patronage family) arranged for Engel to have his first exhibition of painting at the Frederick Kahn Gallery in Los Angeles. As the story goes, Engel and Guggenheim were visiting the gallery when Ms. Guggenheim suggested that Mr. Kahn should give Engel an exhibition. Taken by surprise, Engel agreed to have an exhibition if Kahn would agree not to sell anything.
Read more about this topic: Jules Engel
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